Electric switching apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. R. ROB.

l ELECTRIC SWITOHING APPARATUS.

No. 502,105. Patented Juy 25, 189s.

TGRNEY WITNESSESP (No'Model.)

A. R. ROE.

2 sheets-sheet 2.

ELECTRIC SWITGHING APPARATUS.

WITNESSES:

Patented July 25, 1893.

INVENTOR -f'tur j?. Zoe f BY 5MM/. A

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR RICHARD ROE, OF DULUTII, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,105, dated July 25,1893.

Application filed October 28, 1892. Serial No. 450,274. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.,-

Beit known that I, ARTHUR RICHAEDROE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitching Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to electric switching apparatus, and also inconnection therewith to mechanism for operating rheostats.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby any one of anumber of combinations of electric switches and rheostats may besimultaneously operated. For instance, in theaters or other places whereelectric lights are arranged in groups, it is desirable to cut in andout more or fewer of the groups simultaneously, in order to lightportions of the building or space while other portions remain dark. Itis also desirable at times to Vary the intensity of the light in one ormore of the groups simultaneously with the entire cutting in or out ofthe groups. In another applicated led by me September 24, 1892, SerialNo. 446,765, I have described an invention for this purpose and theinvention herein described and claimed is an improvement upon that setforth in my said application now on file.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a frontelevation of my improved switching apparatus with a portion of the frontplate broken away to disclose the mechanism behind the same, andportions of the mechanism being also broken away for the sake ofclearness. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the mechanism beingexposed, and Fig. 3 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents an inclosing frame orcase through the front of which portions of the mechanism by which theapparatus is operated projects. This mechanism consists of a wheel WVand a series of mechanical push buttons c. There is also projectingthrough the front of the case, push-rods c which connect with electricalswitches, inside of the case, and the segment plates and the contactarms of a number of rheostats a2 which will hereinafter be described.The apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists of four switches andfour rheostats with the mechanism for operating them, but it will beobvious that any number of switches and rheostats may be operated incombinations in the same manner as these sets of four are operated.Between the front of the case and a diaphragm or another portion of theframe placed parallel thereto and some distance back of it, representedby the letter A', the electric switches and portions of the rheostatmechanism are mounted. The rheostats and switches are of substantiallythe same construction as those described in the aforementionedapplication for patent. The switches consist of a circuit closingcylinder b which is carried into and out of contact with the circuitterminals b', b', by a walking beam b2 pivoted at b3. A cross-head isfixed to each end of the walking beams and to one of these the contact bis attached. Each cross-head also carries a reciprocating rodrepresented by h4, b4, one of which projects through the front of thecase and carries a knob c. before referred to. Both of these rods passthrough openings in the diaphragm A in which they have bearings. It willbe seen therefore that when one of the rods reciprocates in onedirection, the other moves in the opposite direction, and the switchesmay be operated by pushing or pulling on either one of the rods. Therheostats are similarly operated; that is, they are provided with thepush rods, cross-heads and the walking beam, but the rheostat arm c10 isconnected with the walking beam so that when the latter is vibrated bythe reciprocation of the rods, the arm is thrown from one end to theother end of the row of resistance segments or terminals. It is to beunderstood that these switches control various circuits including, forinstance, electric lamps and the rheostats throw resistance into and outof the same or different circuits as the case may be; and it is theobject of this invention to operate any combination of these switchesand rheostats simultaneously, and with rapidity and ease. This set offrames constitutes an operating device which acts at intervals directlyupon the switches and rheostats.

The switches and rheostats are preferably arranged in rows and behindeach row a plate or frame B is located. These frames are rigidlyconnected together by end pieces B so IOO as to be movable together, andthe set of frames is mounted upon tracks B2 on which it may slide towardand away from the diaphragm A. Upon the face of these frames B anddirectly opposite each switch and rheostat is a plate c, fixed in guidesso that it will slide vertically. Each plate is provided with two slotsc arranged in line with the respective push rods 0f the switch orrheostat to which it corresponds. The plates are caused to move into twopositions, in one of which, one of the rods is in alignment with theslot c', while the other rod of the same switch or rheostat is out ofalignment with its slot c. The frame B is open immediatelyback of theslots in the plates c, so that if the push rods pass through the slotsthey will have a free passage also beyond the frame B. The plates arenormally in their lowest position where they are supported by pins.

The plates c, constitute selecting devices, by means of which theswitches and rheostats, which are to be operated by the set of frames,are determined.

The frames B, B, B are connected through pitman rods CZ with the cranksof crank shafts D, D, which shafts are mounted in suitable bearingsattached to the case and carry at one end bevel gears CZ. Then thesecrank shafts are rotated a half turn, it is obvious that the frames B,B, will be moved either forward or backward a distance equal to thediameter of a circle which the cranks describe. When the frames moveforward, the switches are either opened or closed according to which oftheir push rods are moved; or they may be left in the position in whichthey were when last operated. Likewise the current in the circuits whichthe rheostats control is alsoincreased or decreased.

The frames B, B, are thrown forward and backward manually by means of ahand wheel IN, from which motion is communicated through shaft tu, bevelgear to shaft tu', and bevel gear to shaft to2, the last mentioned shaftcarrying bevel gears which engage with each of the gears on the crankshafts D.

The mechanism for altering the position of the plates c to change thecombinations will now be described. Beneath each plate c is a pivotedplate vc2 to which is loosely engaged one end of the vertical thrust rodc3. The other end of said rod connects with a hell crank lever etpivoted at c5, and said bell crank lever carries a pin c6 which runs ina guide c' The guide is a straight bar having holes for the pins, placedin line with each other, there being one hole and pin and one rod andlever, for each plate c.

In the lower part of the casing is a frame consisting of two end piecesE, E, provided with rollers c, which run on tracks E. Between these twoen d pieces is mounted a roller F on a horizontal axis, the aXis beingin about the same horizontal plane as the row of pins c6. On the shaftwith the roller is a pinion f, and a ratchet wheel f and a coiled springf2,

shown in dotted lines, acts upon the roller to turn it in the directionindicated by the arrow f3. The roller and pinion are loose on the shaft,and this coiled spring is connected at one end to the roller and at theother end to the shaft.

g is a gear quadrant pivoted at g', and having an extension beyond thepivot to which is loosely connected a link g2. This link also connectswith a cross-bar g3 which extends from one endpiece of theframe to theother,and its ends run in horizontal grooves in said end frames when itis moved inward as will hereinafter be described. Against this cross-bara number of levers h, pivoted at 7L', bear, and they are adapted to beforced against the cross-bar and thus move it inward, by push rods orbuttons a, respectively, before referred to. Each of the levers 7L has ashoulder h2. The frame with the roller and the other parts which itcarries is bodily movable upon the tracks E and it is drawn toward therear of the casing constantly by the springs E2. A downward projection tfrom the frame is held continually against a cam j on shaft w, and byrotating this shaft the frame is permitted to slide toward the rear ofthe case, or is d rawu toward the front of the case.

Adjacent to the ratchet wheel on the end of the roller is a pawl Zt'adapted to engage therewith and pivoted to one of the end pieces of theframe. This pawl has a finger Zt which engages at times with a pivotedfinger 7a2. The last is not carried by the frame E, but it is stationaryand its swing in one direction is limited by pin 7e3.

In the surface of the roller F are arranged longitudinal rows of pins Z.In each row these pins are arranged so that each one of them will be inthe same vertical plane with one of the pins c6, and the number of pinsZ in each row and their arrangement in the rows is determined by theparticular combination of switches and rhcostats which the respectiverows correspond with. There is one row of these pins for eachcombination and as the apparatus herein described is built for sevencombinations there will be seven rows of pins Z. Diametrically oppositeeach row of pins Z is placed a single pin m. These pins are variouslylocated between the ends of the rollers, no two of them being in thesame vertical plane, and all are ont of line with the gins c, but inline with the respective levers h.

The operation of the system is as follows: Suppose it is desired tooperate a combination which is numbered 4; the key or button a numberedet would be pushed inward, pressing the end of the lever 7L against thecrossrod g3 and pushing said cross-rod inward. This swings the quadrantg and rotates the pinion which carries the roller with it. The key ispushed inward until it is stopped by one of the pins m coming againstthe shoulder h2 on lever 7L. While the roller is making this movementthe pawl 7.: runs loosely over ITO the ratchet teeth and the spring inthe roller is wound up. Vhen the roller stops, the pawl prevents itsbackward movement. The position of the roller now is such that the rowof pins Z corresponding to combination No. 4 is in front of the row ofpins c. Now by turning the hand wheel IV, cam j permits spring E2 toslide the frame and roller toward the rear, thus forcing the pins Zagainst the corresponding pins ci". The cam permits the frame to movefar enough to impart movement to the pins cf", which movement iscommunicated to the bell cranks and rods and to the pivoted plates underthe corresponding` sliding plates c. These sliding plates are thereforelifted into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and thepositions of the slots in said plates are changed with respect to thepushrods of the switches or rheostats to which the plates correspond.Then by a further movement of the wheel WV in the same direction thecranks d are thrown over and the frame B, B, B is pushed forward, andthe rods of the several switches are each operated. Continuing therotation of the wheel in the same direction, the frame B, B, B is firstwithdrawn to its original position. Then the roller F is thrown forwardby the cam j, thus releasing pins c6, and allowing the plates c toassume their normal position. While the roller is traveling back theprojection 7c on the pawl 7c strikes finger k2 and is lifted from theratchet wheel, which immediately is rotated in the direction indicatedby the arrow f3 and unwinds the spring. The operation may then berepeated with the same or any other combination.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The combination of apluralityof switches or circuit controllers, of an operating device acting atintervals and adapted to open one or any number of the switches orcircuit controllers and simultaneously close others or the remainder ofthem, and a plurality of independent adjustable selecting devicescarried by said operating device and corresponding respectively withsaid switches, the switches or circuit controllers remaining in thepositions to which they were last thrown, during the intervals when theoperating device is not acting substantially as described.

2. The combination with a plurality of electric switches, movable rodsor levers controlling the respective switches, a plate or frame adaptedto move against said rods or levers to operate the switches andselecting devices carried by the plate or frame, determining how manyand which of said switches shall be operated, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a plurality of switches each of which has twooperating levers or rods, of a plate or frame for moving one or theother of the rods or levers of each switch and selecting devices carriedby said frame or plate determining which of said rods or levers shall beoperated.

L The combination with a plurality of switches each of which has twooperating levers or rods, of a plate or frame for moving one or theother of the rods or levers of each switch and selecting devices carriedby said frame or plate determining which of said rods or levers shall beoperated, and mechanism for simultaneously setting said selectingdevices.

5. The combination of a plurality of switches, respective selectingdevices determining which of said switches shall be operated, a seriesof pins or levers connecting with and operating the selecting devices, aplurality of rows or groups of pins arranged to engage with various pinsor levers of said series, and means for determining which of said rowsor groups shall engage with said pins or levers, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination of a plurality of switches, respective selectingdevices determining which of said switches shall be operated, a seriesof pins or levers connecting with and operating the selecting devices, aroller carrying a plurality of groups or rows of combination pinsadapted to engage with said series of pins or levers, and rotating meansfor said roller to determine which of said groups shall engage with theseries of pins, said roller being bodily movable to carry the group intoengagement and operate the pins of said series, for the purpose setforth.

7. The combination of a plurality of switches, a switch operatingapparatus, respective selecting devices determining which of saidswitches shall be operated, a series of sets of levers through whichmotion is imparted to said selecting devices respectively, a combinationapparatus determining which of said sets of levers shall be moved, and amain shaft first acting upon the combination apparatus and then on thesaid switch operating apparatus, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a plurality of switches and a combinationapparatus for determining which of said switches may be operated, saidcombination apparatus consisting of a roller having a rotary and asliding motion,groups of combination devices such as pins set in itssurface, a stop for each group, manually operated levers engaging withsaid stop and gearing for rotating the roller operated by said manuallyoperated levers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR RICHARD ROE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD FULLER, A. R. COLEMAN.

IOO

